Jenna's Journey

Follow along as 2008-2009 South Carolina State Teacher of the Year Jenna Hallman travels across the Palmetto State. Hallman, a science teacher from Calhoun Academy of the Arts in Anderson School District Five, will update this page periodically with journal entries following her visits to schools across South Carolina.

See when Jenna will be in a school near you, view her calendar.

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May 18th - T.L. Hanna High School

There are a handful of moments in my life that I know will stay with me until the day I die. Last night, I added another moment to that pile I stood in front of the class of 2009 at T.L. Hanna High School in Anderson and changed the life of one of their classmates. For the first time ever, the University of Phoenix created a Teaching it Forward scholarship. This full, four year scholarship was given to each State Teacher of the Year with the understanding that we were to choose one student in our state to give it to. So, last night I stood at the awards ceremony and presented the scholarship to Arthur N. Bright.

Arthur is a completely unassuming young man. I first met him a few months ago in the guidance counselor's office. He didn't know who I was. He didn't know that I was actually interviewing him as we discussed his plans for the future. Arthur explained that he really wanted to go to college and major in business. His eyes dropped and his skateboard style blond hair covered his face as he admitted that this probably wouldn't happen. His grades were high enough and he certainly had the backing of his teachers, but the dream was still out of reach. You see, Arthur's mother had just started dialysis and had recently lost her sight. His father was working three jobs to cover the cost of the medical and household bills. Arthur himself held down a job to pay for his own clothes. He was needed at home to help care for his mother, so traditional college was out of the question. I listened to Arthur describe his family, his work habits, and his lost dreams. I decided at that very moment that he was exactly the kind of person that I wanted to give the scholarship to.

I remember asking Arthur what he thought about online education (University of Phoenix starts as an online program) and if he thought that type of instruction would work for him. He replied that he loved being online and actually learned better that way (surprise :) ). He still told me that there was no way he could afford to take classes right now. I asked him what he would do if I changed that for him. I described the Teaching it Forward scholarship and informed him that I really wanted to give it to him. He sat in the chair and cried and thanked me over and over again. I made him promise that he would finish the degree and that if he ever ran into any trouble he would call me and I would help him. He promised. I later discovered that he left the guidance office only to head directly to the Principal's office. He told Sheila Hilton about our discussion and they sat and cried as well.

Last night, as I stood in front of the microphone and described the scholarship to all the parents and teachers in the room, I thought about Arthur and our first meeting. I called his name and he approached the stage with cheers and whistles in the background, certainly the loudest of the evening. His classmates understood.

Arthur's story is just beginning and I intend to follow him through the journey. My commitment to him is real and I will do everything in my power to ensure that he succeeds. Anderson District Five has agreed to provide him with a laptop and the community will cover the cost of his Internet access.

Of all the prizes and gifts I have received this year, this one was the best. Thank you University of Phoenix for allowing me to Teach it Forward.

May 14th - South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind

One of the most special places in all of South Carolina is the School for the Deaf and the Blind in Spartanburg. I worked with deaf emotionally challenged teenagers at the school for several years while I was completing my degree. I learned to sign mostly from these students (as you can probably guess I learned all the bad signs first). Even though it was a hard and exhausting job I enjoyed it and even considered getting a masters in deaf education. I really believe that my roots in South Carolina education are here on the SCSDB campus. For that reason, it always feels like a homecoming when I return to Spartanburg and address the teachers.

Jason Fulmer and I traveled to SCSDB to speak to the induction and ADEPT teachers as well as their mentors and administrators. The evening event was coordinated by Mary Washko. Jason had never been on campus so Mary arranged to give us a tour this afternoon. We met the interim President, Carol Mabry, and several principals along the way. Our tour consisted of the deaf elementary school and dorm, the blind elementary and middle school, and the multi handicapped school. We actually started in the art department of the deaf school where my friend Chip Walters is a teacher. She is amazing! She works with all areas of arts education. Her students have signed songs at the State House and at the opening of a Carolina Panthers game. They have performed in The Wizard of Oz and many other plays. Their artwork is on display all over South Carolina. It is incredible! When I walked into the art room a familiar face immediately started signing to me. Cleveland remembered coming to my home school Calhoun Academy of the Arts as part of a "semi-exchange" program Chip and I created between the two schools.

We walked to the blind school where we met a first year teacher and his students. They stole our hearts as he asked each one if they wanted to meet us. He carefully guided them to stand in front of us and they introduced themselves and shook our hands. I really thought Jason and I were both going to cry. The multi handicapped school touched us in the same way. We learned about the career prep class where students earn a paycheck by running a balloon store for the entire campus. I am running out of words to use to describe what happens at this school. I never feel sorry for the kids here. They're kids, they're happy, and they're learning. If you ask them if they like it at SCSDB, they break into a huge smile and talk about all of their experiences on campus. They swim, bowl, ride horses, complete chores, and play sports. To them, it's home.

Later that evening Jason and I had our chance to address part of the faculty. We shared our first year stories and the reasons we teach along with passages from Dr. Seuss' The Places You'll Go. We compared the first and second years of teaching to the different parts of the book, but reminded them that they would succeed "98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed". It was gratifying to have the opportunity to thank these early teachers for their service and to publicly thank their mentors for the role they played in the success of these individuals. The whole day was an amazing experience!

The only "bad" part was that Jason had to spend the night in the guest suite in Walker Hall which is haunted by Martha Walker. I tried my best to scare him senseless and I think I succeeded. He later told me that he and Martha had words before he went to bed. Supposedly he told her to stay away and behave (he was given this piece of advice by a staff member who has seen her). I wonder if it worked?

May 12th - Mauldin High School Teacher Cadet Graduation

If you've ever met Rachel Turner from Mauldin High School, you know she never does anything in a small way. Last night she held a graduation ceremony for her Teacher Cadets and as usual, she went all out. The evening began with a buffet dinner. Our tables were decorated with candles which eliminated the feel that we were eating in a high school media center. We viewed a PowerPoint of the Cadets in action as we ate. It was a lot of fun to see these students working in their field experiences, on their numerous service projects, and participating in cadet lessons with Rachel.

The best part of the evening by far was when the Cadets came to the microphone, and one by one, thanked their cooperating teachers and shared stories about their most inspirational teachers. I don't think there was a dry eye in the entire room. Most of the teachers being honored were in attendance and had the opportunity to come forward, hug their cadet, and receive a small gift. One of these teachers actually drove in from Tennessee to be a part of the ceremony! Another teacher, who had recently retired, noted that she had never felt more appreciated than she did at that moment. The stories the Cadets told about these individuals were not extraordinary in that the things they remembered and valued about their teachers were little things. They talked about the class being fun. They discussed the fact that they felt loved, respected, and safe in these teacher's classrooms. They shared stories about being pushed to do more than they thought they could and the feeling they had when they succeeded. I guess what really stood out to me was the fact that most of the teachers I've seen this year fit the description of inspirational teachers as defined by these Cadets. We just never know the impact we are having on a child. We may never hear about the impact we had on their lives. I guess we just need to know deep in our hearts that we are making a difference.

Each one of the Cadets was awarded a certificate for completing the program and given their graduation cord from Ray Kimbrell from Anderson University. There were certainly a lot of proud parents in the room during this part of the ceremony. Most of Rachel's Cadets are planning to teach. The few that have other career aspirations are still willing to minor in education or take a few education courses. When it was my turn to speak I shared a few vignettes about the inspirational teachers in my life but talked more in depth about the inspirational people I have met this year. I've worked with Rachel's Cadets a good bit this year thanks to the close proximity of their school to my home and Rachel's persistence. Anytime I see her she asks me to get out my calendar! Anyway, I shared the fact that the Cadets all across the state have inspired me to be a better teacher. Their enthusiasm for the profession makes me want to work harder and learn more. I also discussed the fact that Rachel has inspired me this year. I have never met someone that can be "up" and willing to do whatever all the time.

The evening ended with the presentation of two awards. First, Rachel was given a $5,000 grant check from MetLife for the community outreach work she did with the Cadets. She was the only recipient in the state this year. I know Rachel pretty well and feel confident in saying that every penny of that money will find its way back to her cadet classroom. The second award was the Teacher Cadet of the year. The Cadets nominate four of their peers fro this award. Kelsie Coker, Kristen Smith, Tyler Stuck, and Abbey Wilson all completed an application packet and submitted it to the Mauldin High School PSTA. This group read and judged the applications. Tyler Stuck was named the Teacher Cadet of the Year and was given a $1,000 scholarship check for the college of his choice. By the way, Tyler is going to teach.

I am so proud of all of the Cadets. I wish you all success in your future endeavors and can't wait to see you standing at the front of a South Carolina classroom.

May 11th - Policy Fellows

I made it! I graduated! Today was the last meeting for the 2009 Policy Fellows class. It was an amazing experience. I certainly have a better understanding of policy development and government in general thanks to Molly Spearman's expertize and constant support. I would recommend this program to anyone who is interested in becoming more knowledgeable about education issues and better equipped to influence policy at the local, state, and national level. They are currently accepting applications for next year's class. The link for the website is listed below. I want to thank Molly Spearman and SCASA for giving me the opportunity to participate and continue to grow.

http://www.scasa.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=153

Our final class focused on the influence of the media in policy development. Jim Foster form the State Department of Education and John Monk from The State paper were in attendance to lead the discussion. Both men discussed the fact that the Internet and CNN have created a 24 hour news machine. In all actuality there probably isn't enough happening to warrant continuous news coverage every minute of every day. The result is sensationalized coverage. Jim asked if we believed we were safer in our homes and communities today or ten years ago. We all answered that we felt safer ten years ago. The truth is (based on FBI and local crime reports) we are dramatically safer today. We just don't know it because the news machines dwell on stories like the Lacie Peterson case. The other piece of the puzzle that we have to realize is that newspapers historically broke the news and thus set the agenda for what was covered. TV stations usually ran follow-up stories on what was in the paper that morning. For a very long time newspapers employed more people and could therefore allot more time for researching a story. Stories were screened by several editors before they were printed. The need for a constant story has changed the way the news industry operates. Education is often a victim to this new methodology. The good news can be reported quickly while the troublesome reports allow for ample opportunities for follow-ups and continuing coverage.

Here's another troubling piece of information. The newspapers are dying. I've heard that before but didn't realize that the almost inevitable end was approaching so quickly. Traditional paper readership is down nationwide. The decision to post all of the newspaper online was catastrophic for the industry. Search engines such as google make it nearly impossible for information to be protected for paying readers only. The impact is that papers all across the country are laying off reporters (The State is down from 150 to 65 people) which means we are going to end up with more sensationalized coverage in this venue as well. This is all pretty scary in my mind. I worry that we are losing touch with the facts and being fed a diet of processed news. This is just more proof that we must teach our students to analyze information rather than just accepting everything they see and hear as fact.

On another note we received some information about tax credit bill that is currently being sent to full committee in the Senate. The information below came from Rachel Dean of RISE SC.

The Senate Education Committee will vote this Wednesday, May 13th, on the tax credit/voucher bill S.520. Please call the members of the committee (see full listing below), even if you're not in their district, and tell them to vote AGAINST this legislation.

The legislation received an unfavorable report (by a vote of 6 to 4) from the Senate K-12 Education Subcommittee.

During the subcommittee hearing, the Board of Economic Advisers reported that this legislation could cost our state as much as $174.4 million dollars in lost state and local revenue if fully implemented. Please contact the members of the full committee and tell them that, now more than ever, it is simply unacceptable to advance legislation that would take public dollars from our public schools and give them to private schools with no accountability and no guaranteed access for all of South Carolina's children.

Finally, Molly gave us a quick update on the whole Howard Rich nightmare. Our legislators currently do not want to change the LLC loophole that allows money from people such as Howard Rich to enter the state. In fact, some of the gubernatorial candidates (I don't know who specifically) want his money although they pledge to do the "right thing" and not vote for vouchers. I think that is a pretty scary line to walk and something we need to keep a pretty close eye on.

I'm certainly going to miss my classmates from Policy Fellows. I have enjoyed our rich discussions and appreciate all that they have taught me.

May 5th - Florence District One Honor and Awards Banquet

This evening I had the honor of presenting the key note address at Florence District One's awards banquet at Francis Marion. Florence One does a tremendous job of recognizing the teachers, assistants, support staff, and administrators that have made a difference in the lives of children. The banquet consisted of a full meal, musical entertainment, and a recognition ceremony. The ceremony lasted quite a while as we had the opportunity to celebrate all the teachers of the year, the newly National Board certified teachers, Palmetto's Finest nominees, grant recipients, conference presenters, and Gold and Silver schools. It was incredible!

I think what happens when districts hold events like this is that people realize their worth and value. They feel appreciated and are willing to keep putting forth the extra effort. I know it took a lot of time to pull this event together, but in the long run it will positively affect the culture and climate in the district. We all need a pat on the back every once in a while. This banquet provided the pat, the hug, and the cheer for each individual that was recognized. Way to go Florence One!

During my key note I shared the fact that each of the awards and accolades that were given came with strings attached. I told the group that I knew them, even though I didn't know their names. I knew they were the ones that stayed late, arrived early, volunteered for everything, mentored, took on student teachers, and served as the expert for their peers. They were true educator leaders and the strings that were attached to their awards were tied to a continued call for leadership. I explained that educator leadership has three main parts: knowledge, servant leadership, and advocacy. After explaining some of the specific of each of these areas I reminded them about the strings. I stated that maybe what they had been given was more a gift than a set of attached strings. I ended by encouraging them to unwrap the gift and use it. Don't place it on a shelf and admire it.

Congratulations to everyone that was honored at the awards banquet in Florence One. You are an amazing group and I am very proud of your accomplishments. Keep it up!

May 4th - A Sad Day

I knew this day would come. I tried to prepare myself and my family for this moment. We decided to pretend it wasn't really going to happen. And then ... I got the call. It actually came about a month ago. The person on the other line was very sweet, but also very specific. May 4th was the day that I had to return the BMW Roadster.

To help myself deal with this disappointment, I compiled a list of the things I won't miss about having a BMW.

I absolutely will not miss the attention I received from truckers and the inevitable honks as I passed them.
I will not miss the arguments between my children about who gets to ride in the BMW.
I won't miss playing vehicle shuffleboard in my small subdivision driveway. It always seemed that the car we needed was blocked in by another vehicle.
I certainly will not miss the look on my hairdresser's face when I walk in with a wind blown hairdo.

I'm not going to miss the constant nagging worry that I am going to somehow total the BMW. That was one phone call I did not want to have to make. I do however want credit for making it through the year without putting a dent or scratch on the car. Remember, the door handle was not my fault!

All joking aside, it was a sad day. I had to drive my (did you catch the ownership there) car to Greenville and leave it parked outside the BMW plant. I'm sure they will have it cleaned and ready to be sold by next week. Did I mention today was my birthday? In case anyone was wondering what sort of gift they could get me - I happen to know where to find a montego blue Roadster!

I do want to thank BMW for allowing me to drive the Roadster all year. It will probably be the one and only time I will have such an opportunity. I returned it to them with over 28,000 miles on it. I especially want to express my appreciation to Bunny Richardson, Amber Scruggs, and Max Metcalf. They are firm believers in the power of the teacher and incrdeible advocates for education in South Carolina.

May 2nd - Anderson University

I think I am getting too old to try to function on only 4 1/2 hours of sleep. It was really hard to get up and head home to Anderson this morning. I would have stayed at my mom's and slept for a lot longer but I needed to be at Anderson University by 7:30. I was actually really excited to attend graduation and see the Teaching Fellows one last time.

The day started with a breakfast where I was introduced to the faculty. Anderson University always has great food, so that helped me start to wake up. I had the chance to talk with several education professors as we ate and shared stories of practicum and student teachers that I have had in my classroom. I have kept in contact with several of these individuals and was happy to fill their former teachers in our their latest accomplishments. We finished eating and headed to Dr. Wooten's office to adorn our caps and robes. I felt like I was graduating all over again. I hate those crazy mortar board hats. I have way too much hair for it to sit on my head right. I always look like my head is extra large and the cap is extra small. All in all, not a good look.

We quickly joined the processional and I was warned to watch where I walked. A horse actually led the procession and no-one was following with a shovel this year. I can assure you, that horse was nervous and we all knew it! I did avoid any catastrophes as we made our way to the front lawn of Anderson University and took our seats on the stage. The ceremony started as all graduations do and quickly moved on to the presentation of honorary degrees and awards. My reason for being at AU today was to receive the Outstanding Teacher Award. I was thrilled to accept this honor anyway, but was extra excited when I discovered that the Teaching Fellows are responsible for voting for the yearly recipient. I have fallen in love with the Teaching Fellows across the state this year. They are some of the most passionate individuals I have come in contact with. They make me proud to be a teacher.

It was a lot of fun to watch these future educators walk across the stage and accept their diploma. I could see the excitement in their ideas and can only imagine the changes they will bring about in education. I hate that this group is graduating at a time when the economy is in such dire straits. Normally, these accomplished students would already have signed contracts and would be anticipating their first day in their own classrooms. I want them to know that things will get better and that the students of SC need them to stay here and teach.